Panglao launches coral reef project
PANGLAO, BOHOL – Mayor Nila Montero and Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes on Thursday led the launching of coral reef transplantation, for the third time, in collaboration with barangay folk and scuba dive shop operators in this premier tourist town.
Montero emphasized the need for this project at Barangay Bil-isan, saying this is for sustainability and progress of the town, the main livelihood of which now hinges on the tourism industry.
She said this project would ensure that coral reefs will be enjoyed by tourist-divers, the local fisherfolk and for the future of the next generation.
Montero admitted that coral reefs now are threatened by climate change, thus coral reefs transplantation should be done in marine protected areas (MPAs), which are present in every barangay of Panglao.
“We have to keep the MPAs from harm,” since this is part of the tourism that the town is selling for livelihood purposes, said the mayor, as she urged the barangay folk to help protect and preserve MPAs.
Fuertes, in his welcome message during the launching ceremony, also echoed the call for protection of the natural environment, which he described as “unfathomable” and “mysterious.”
There is a time to sacrifice nature for the welfare of the people, he said, but “this doesn’t mean people should destroy the environment that gives them their source of livelihood, such as fishing.
Municipal environment officer Darwin Menorias said the coral reef project is designed to improve Barangays Doljo and Libaong.
Marine Biology Dean, Dr. Samuel Gulayan, of the Bohol Island State University (BISU), said that restoring and rehabilitation of MPAs may be done by way of deploying artificial reef and creation of MPAs.
Coral transplantation is also done with the use of coral nursery units (CNUs), which may be placed in a damaged areas, like in Bilisan’s MPA, where a cargo barge loaded with sand deposits ran aground about three years ago.
“Coral reefs are animals that exist as a colony and live together in a skeletal matrix of calcium carbonate. The individual called polyps secrete the calcium carbonate around themselves, helping to form the structure.” Gulayan said.
“Corals are the most diverse ecosystem in the world. It provides refuge to a multitude of organisms. However, it is also sensitive to environment changes,” he said, while briefing divers during the launch.
Illegal fishing, pollution, siltation, crown of thorns, diseases, climate change and poorly-managed tourism threaten coral reefs, Gulayan warned.